This course will select six most outstanding issues in contemporary Korean politics and will engage in an in-depth, interactive inquiry of those issue. They include Korean politics in history, institutional setting of Korean politics, and dynamics of political culture in Korea, profiles of political leadership, myth and reality of the developmental state and the Korean economic miracle, and debates on Korean unification. The course will expose students to contending theories and empirical reality at first hand.
After completing this course, learners will be able to
1. Grasp the most salient and timely aspects of Korean politics..
2. Place South Korean politics in comparative perspectives.
3. Digest a delicate mix of theory and practice regarding Korean politics.
4. Come up with new interpretations of political development in South Korea.
5. Most importantly renew their genuine interests in Korea and Korean politics.

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Flexible deadlines

Flexible deadlines

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Beginner Level

Beginner Level

Hours to complete

Approx. 14 hours to complete

Suggested: 6 weeks of study, 2-2.5 hours/week...

Available languages

English

Subtitles: English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified)

Learners taking this Course are

Translators

Customer Care Reps

Researchers

Teachers

Sales Associates

100% online

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Beginner Level

Hours to complete

Approx. 14 hours to complete

Suggested: 6 weeks of study, 2-2.5 hours/week...

Available languages

English

Subtitles: English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified)

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

1

Hours to complete

1 hour to complete

Korean Politics in Historical Perspective

During Week 1, leaners will have an overview of Korean Politics which includes past history, the presidents and the main historical events during the 1st to the 6th Republic, and the democratic transition in 1987. The first week will help learners develop a fundamental understanding of the historical development of Korean Politics and lead leaners to think what makes Korean Politics new and interesting.

Dynamics of Democratic Transition in South Korea: Structure, Culture, and Leadership Choice

Week 2 will first summarizes the four legacies of South Korea’s politics from 1948 to 1987 and introduce the major concepts and models of democratic transition. Second, it will give a clear and detailed explanation about South Korea’s democratic transition which includes the transition dynamics, the determinants of democratic transition and the democratic consolidation.

Political Institutions in South Korea

Week 3 will start with the explanation of institution including its concept, types and major issues. In the second part, the lecture will expound South Korea’s constitutional foundation and its evolution, focusing on its nine constitutional amendments. Then it will talk about the structure and features of South Korean government, also it will briefly introduce South Korea’s presidential system which will be further explained in next week.

Profiles of political leadership

Week 4 will mainly talk about the political leadership. The lecture will first give the definition, types and evaluation criteria of political leadership. Then it will evaluate President Rhee Syngman, Park Chung-hee and Kim Dae-jung by using the criteria given in the first part and lead leaners to discuss the unique pattern of South Korean leadership.

The Developmental State and the Korean Economic Miracle

Week 5 will give leaners a very clear explanation of South Korean economic development, including its original conditions, economic take-off and economic crisis. Then the lecture will talk about the limits of developmental state and lead leaners to discuss about the future of South Korean economy.

5.5 Limits to the Developmental State and the Future of the South Korean Economy11m

Reading1 reading

Reading Materials10m

Quiz1 practice exercise

Graded Quiz12m

Week

6

Hours to complete

3 hours to complete

Debates on Korean Unification

The main topic of week 6 is Korean unification. The lecture will start with explanation of inter-Korean relationship to help learners form a better understanding towards Korean unification. Then it will expound and evaluate the Sunshine policy. And the last part will have learners discuss about the future of Inter-Korean relations and unification.

Instructor

About Yonsei University

Yonsei University was established in 1885 and is the oldest private university in Korea.
Yonsei’s main campus is situated minutes away from the economic, political, and cultural centers of Seoul’s metropolitan downtown. Yonsei has 3,500 eminent faculty members who are conducting cutting-edge research across all academic disciplines. There are 18 graduate schools, 22 colleges and 133 subsidiary institutions hosting a selective pool of students from around the world.
Yonsei is proud of its history and reputation as a leading institution of higher education and research in Asia....

Frequently Asked Questions

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When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.

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What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.